CLARITY

Seattle

January 2041

It was already quite late and Alec was walking aimlessly around the grounds.

He had now calmed down and had just decided to go back to the others when he saw Nika and Ben.

He crept up quietly and stayed hidden in the shadows while he listened.

Nika and Ben were still in a heated discussion but were at least holding hands again, which couldn't be the worst sign in this situation.

"I think I've already spilled the beans anyway," Ben told her with a wry grin.

Nika looked at him punishingly and punched him in the chest. Pretty hard it seemed because he groaned a little.

"So that means we're going through with this?"

"Yes Nika, we, together with my family, we will manage it.

With these words he pulled her towards him and hugged her. He pulled her to his chest and kissed her hair gently. Alec recognized himself and Max in this situation and at the same moment he knew that this was exactly what he had wanted from the beginning, he had always loved Max.

Alec quietly walked back without being seen and made his way to Max.

He ran through the darkness and only now noticed that he was being watched. A drone flew along the border fence and filmed.

Did this drone also film the scene between Ben and Nika?

Alec quickly realized it had to be a Familiar spy drone. They weren't allowed to find out where Ben was, let alone how they could blackmail him, and given what he had just understood and what he had seen, they now had two motives on camera that were completely suitable for blackmail. Nika and the unborn child. Child! A shiver ran down Alec's spine. How could that happen? Well, of course he knew how, but the question that came to mind was actually how the two teenagers could have acted so carelessly. He was angry with both of them. But at the same time, he was just Alec, the one who took everything lightly, covered up with jokes and never let anyone get close to him. How should he deal with this serious issue now?

The only option and person he could think of who was even remotely familiar with his inner life was Max, and he had just left her hanging in a not very gallant outburst, even though he had promised her not to raise his façade towards her so much again . He had done it again. You excluded. He had to look for her and try to straighten things out again, after all he had become a lot more aware of his feelings.

He was quickly back at the hall and in the operations center. The party was still in full swing and he wouldn't have been Alec if he hadn't grabbed a drink or two and a beer or two while searching. By the time he finally found Max, he had reached a decent level and had largely lost his inhibitions. When he saw her sitting there having fun with Seth and Gray and simply laughing, detached from all the problems, his heart almost sank for the first time in his life. He didn't know this feeling, he had never had it before, what was it, it felt strange to be unsure, not knowing what to say, sweating a little and getting goosebumps at the same time. He took a deep breath and still approached Max in his usual cool manner.

When she saw him coming and looked at him she stood up and glared at him surprisingly evilly. The first time he was impressed by this facial expression, especially since he was probably the only one who saw her could be so angry. Nevertheless, he continued walking, his heart pounding wildly. Max tilted his head, Alec knew she could hear his heartbeat and she could see the fine beads of sweat on his forehead. He couldn't hide so he just kept going. When he stood directly in front of her, he wordlessly put his hand around her waist, pulled her towards him and kissed her. At first he felt a little resistance arise in her, but after a few seconds and a little more pull with his arm, he got her to surrender to him. The world stood still for the two of them, Gray and Seth's mouths fell open and the entire hall became silent. But suddenly a murmur went through the hall, Joshua yelped and everyone, everyone, burst into cheers. Even Alec had to struggle with this amount of attention, even though he was probably the most self-centered guy in the room. He blushed. Max looked at him and couldn't believe what she was seeing. The cheers from the hall swept her away and she simply threw herself on his neck. But she couldn't resist a little tip.

"I like your color," she whispered in his ear.

Alec wanted to roll his eyes, but at that moment he preferred to bury his face in her hair to at least catch his breath and it was good that everyone present quickly went back to the celebration because that was the only way his normal color finally seemed to return. He looked at Max and she answered his silent question. They were now officially and finally what they had wanted to be for a long time and had only just really understood: A COUPLE

Nika and Ben entered the hall at the moment Max and Alec kissed. They stood there hand in hand at the entrance. Observed the reaction of the entire transgenic community and gave each other a loving look. In this environment and in this security, nothing, nothing at all, could make them doubt that they would be able to overcome all the hurdles of the coming time.